Whiffletree-hook



(No Model.)

H; OLSON. WHIPFLETREE HOOK. NO- 606,357- Patented June 28,1898.

* om up' NiTnD STATES HKAN OLSON, on soPEnviLLE, ILLINOIS.

WHIFELETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,357, dated June 28,1898. Application filed October 25, 1897. Serial No. 656 ,363. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.:-

Be it known that I, HKAN OLSON, a citizen ofthe United States, and aresident of Seperville, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWhiiIletree-Hooks;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification. i

My invention relates to whiflietree-hooks; and its object is to providean improved construction of the same which may be slipped backward, soas to open the same for the insertion of the trace,and which is closedby the draft or tension of the trace.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a portionof awhifletree with my improved hook applied thereto. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view of amodification to be used with light vehicles. Fig. 4 is a similar View ofanother modification.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates an ordinarywhiflietree formed at the end with a rectangular slot 1a and with twoholes 2, alined with each other and intersecting the openings ila atright angles Ithereto.

The numeral 4 designates the hook, comprising the curved portion or arm5, having its end turned inwardly, forming a lug 5a, and the rectangularshank 6, provided with a slot 7. It will be seen that there is a spacebetween said inwardly-turned end of the arm and the shank to allow atrace to be inserted. In the outer edge of the said shank, or that sidefarthest from the arm, is formed a recess 8 to receive a spring 9. Thesaid shank is also extended backward toward the center of thewhiiiletree, forming an arm 10, provided with an inwardly-extending lu g1l, which engages with a hole l2 in the whiftletree.

The numeral 13 designates a pin passing through the holes 2 and the slot7, and 14. a collar or ferrule on the endof the whiliietree.

In using the device the shank is inserted in the slot in the end of thewhiftletree, with the lug 11 projecting into the hole 12. The

pin 13 is then passed through the holes 2 and wpulled out to close thehook.

the slot 7 inthe shank. To engage a trace with the hook, the latter ispushed backward, so as to uncover the space between the arm and shank.The end of the arm is then passed through the usual hole in the trace,and the draft upon the same by the horse will pull the hook forward,closing the space and preventing the trace from becoming disengaged. Theslot in the shank permits of this sliding movement ofthe hook, while thespring 9 prevents rattling of the hook. By reason of the extension orarm of the shank and the lug the strain to a great extent is taken fromthe pin 13. In light vehicles,however, the said arm and lug may bedispensed with, as in Fig. 3.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the end of the shank is formed witha head 15, which abuts against the Whiflletree when the arm is In thiscase no strain comes upon the pin, which simply holds the hook in theopening or slot in the whiffletree, the entire strain being borne by thehead.

It is obvious that my invention maybe used for other purposes besidesWhifiletree-hooks.

Having `thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Thecombination with a whifiietree hav ing a slot in the end and twointersecting alined holes and the collar or ferrule, of the hookcomprising the curved arm having an inwardly-extending lug at the end,the shank integral with said arm formed with a horizonn tal slot andwith a recess in its rear side, the pin passing through said slot, andthe spring seated in said recess, substantially as described.

2. The combination ,with the whilizletree having a slot in the end andtwo intersecting alined holes and the collar or ferrule, of the hookcomprising the curved arm having an inwardly-extending lug at the end,the integral shank formed with a horizontal slot and with a recess inthe rear side, the pin passing through said slot, the spring seated insaid recess, and the head at the end of the shank,

`substantially as described.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixedmy signature Witnesses:

S. A. TORNQUIsT, W. H. MATHUS.'

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